STU student creates P.H.A.D and raises funds

Jeremy Varner was born with congenital heart disease. In September his sister Jillian was diagnosed with diabetes. In October his grandfather Roy was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. In November his grandmother Janet needed immediate medical attention for a heart defect.  Two months ago, his mother Nancy was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Now, this fourth year St. Thomas University student is taking action.

“Knowing that I didn’t want anyone else to go through what I’m going through I thought I would stand up,” said Varner. “I knew I had to do something when they were diagnosed.”

That’s why the fourth year student created P.H.A.D. The organization stands for Parkinson’s, Heart defects, Alzheimer’s and Diabetes. The goal of the charity is to raise funds for all four health organizations.

“They [parents] had no idea at first until Christmas Break when I told them,” recalled Varner. “My mom started to cry. She thought it was such a great thing and I told my sister and she started to cry.”

Varner says, he also told his grandparents about it and his grandmother got a little teary-eyed as well but for the most part everyone was really happy about P.H.A.D.

Varner hopes his P.H.A.D presentation/fundraiser will be fun and anticipates people will learn valuable information they can take with them if they ever encounter any of these severe diagnoses.

“There are symptoms that you wouldn’t expect to be a part of these diagnoses,” said Varner. “Someone who goes to the washroom a lot might think they have an over reactive bladder when in reality that is a symptom of diabetes.”

The St. Thomas student says, these are things he had no idea about. That is the scariest thing about this whole ordeal.

Another frightening challenge Varner has gone through is having congenital heart disease throughout his life. He says it was really difficult when he was younger.

“People with congenital heart disease can’t do as much as other kids can,” said Varner. “Looking back though when I was still in my mom’s stomach the doctors told her I should be aborted and that I wouldn’t live.”

Thankfully, his mother didn’t listen. She found another doctor who ultimately, says Varner, saved his life.

“They just kept throwing things at us saying I wasn’t going to walk and obviously I’m on my two feet,” said Varner. “And that I wouldn’t be 5 feet tall and I’m now standing at a tall 5’9.”

Varner, a rugby player at STU, says, that although he can’t do as much as his team mates he still plays his best every game.

“It’s something you just have to adapt with,” said Varner. “At the end of the day it’s something I can’t really change but I’ve found a way to live with it.”

The rugby player’s advice to students, faculty and Frederictonians who have family members with serious illnesses is to not be afraid to admit it.

“You’re going to deal with it every day,” said Varner.  “There is no sense in sitting there and accepting your diagnosis thinking that it’s the end of the world. All of these diagnoses are heading in the right direction of a cure and there’s always hope.”

The fourth year student hopes to expand P.H.A.D presentations to the University of New Brunswick and to high schools around the area.  He wants everyone to have more insight into these four critical health conditions, especially if any one of their family members happens to be diagnosed with one of them.

“When times are tough just remember that they are still in there whether they’re shaking or can’t quite remember who you are,” said Varner. “There’s still someone in there and they’ll always see you through it.”

Link to Corinne Frost’s video story.

Short URL: http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/?p=4420

Posted by Jackie Allan on Feb 7, 2010. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.